Shadow Slave

Usually, it would have taken Kai a lot longer to fly across the city to reach the tranquil terrace district… not that he would have. But today, the famous idol neglected his habit of staying low and out of sight. It seemed that his speed increased tremendously, as well, because ten minutes later, he was already at Sunny's door.

Maybe because of that, there was no crowd of paparazzi following him.

As they waited for Cassie, Effie rummaged through the empty refrigerator, then walked away from it with a disappointed sigh.

"There's no food!"

Sunny, who was evaluating the damage the boisterous huntress had done to the guest bedroom, glanced at her darkly.

"We've been gone for months. What did you expect?"

Effie made a sad face, then shrugged.

"But I'm hungry!"

Sunny let out an exasperated breath.

"...I have some synthpaste, if you want."

She shuddered and opened her mouth to retort, but at that moment, there was a knock on the door. If not for the haughty shadow standing guard outside — reluctantly, of course, since mundane tasks such as this were grossly beneath it — Sunny would have tensed up.

However, he already knew that it was Cassie.

The blind girl walked inside, froze for a moment, then raised a deliciously smelling package.

"...I brought food."

threw a quick glance at

Someone has

did not stare at the

his looks assumed an almost hypnotizing quality. It was easy to get

his head ruefully, a stunned

no one he had ever met was able

And Sunny himself?

qualified to be considered a flower boy, as Soul Reaper had once predicted, but even he couldn't call himself unassuming anymore. The scrawny kid from the outskirts was gone. Instead, a young man with

to Sunny himself, golden threads

the

joyous…

just felt… hurt, tired, and

for weakness. They had to carry on no matter how deep the wounds dealt to their souls cut. Now that the danger

of the Red Colosseum, the nightmares, the assault on the Ivory City…

others had their share of demons

while, Kai poured himself a cup of tea, looked at Sunny, and asked with

what happened? I don't remember much after being swallowed

dropped her fork and stared at

were swallowed by

Kai smiled with embarrassment:

really. I just, sort of… jumped into his mouth.

few times, but didn't say anything. She even forgot about

down, then

assumed that I would not trust anyone with the knives, I think. After you killed the dragon, there was no real reason for him to

a